Orienting device for core drills



Nov. 13, 1934- W. A. HUNSUCKER ORIENTING DEVICE FOR CORFl DRILLS Filed March 5, 1928 Patented Nov. 13, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 12 Claims.

This invention relates to core drills of the type commonly used in the taking of samples of the formation during the drilling of oil wells or from drill holes used in mining exploration work, etc., and is adapted for use in obtaining information relative to the orientation and inclination from the vertical of a core taken by such a drill. This information may be'used to map the course of the drill hole with reference to its location at the surface of the ground, that is to find the extent and direction of the horizontal displacement of the drill hole at different depths with reference to the position of the hole at the surface of the y ground.

As is commonly known to those familiar with this art, it is necessary, in order to completely identify a geological structure, to know the direction of slope of the different strata contained in the structure, as well as the physical composition of the mentioned strata. Various devices have been developed whereby readings for the orientation of a core can be taken with reasonable accuracy, but it is a special object of my invention to develop a device whereby unbroken core sections may be obtained in connection with accurate data as to the orientation and inclination of such core sections.

It is well known to those familiar with the art that in the usual type of rotary core barrel, wherein the core receiving tube is xed relative to the drill pipe and rotates therewith, the core is obtained in very short sections which are broken and twisted during th`e coring operation. This is due to the fact that the movement of the core receiving tube downwardly over the core develops friction between the core and the inner surface of the receiving tube, and consequently the rotation of the receiving tube with respect to the core breaks the core up into short biscuit shaped cylinders. The weight of the accumulated core in the upper portion of the core receiving tube aggravates this condition. Furthermore, it is impossible, with the present devices employed in breaking or catching the core, `to effect such catching or breaking action closer than several inches from the bottom of the hole. For this reason, in the ordinary type of core barrel, having .a xed core receiving tube, the core is generally twisted off or broken before it reaches the core lifter or trap rings. This vis especially true in the sedimentary formations encountered in oil well drilling. It will, therefore, be apparent that the readings for the orientation of cores obtained with a core barrel, wherein the core receiving tube is xed relative to the outer barrel, are practically useless, due to the fact that, at the time the orienting reading is taken, the greater p0rtion of the core will have been twisted out of the position which it originally occupied in the subsurface beds. The use of an inner core receiving tube, which does not rotate with respect to the core, makes possible 'the obtainment of a section of unbroken core in the critical section between the trap rings, or core lifters, and the bottom of the hole. It is obviously necessary that this critical section of the core be unbroken for the satisfactory interpretation of readings for orientation of the core. For the purpose of determining the dip of the strata from a core, it is necessary that the core contain bedding planes, and, due to the fact that certain formations do not contain such planes, it will be apparent that the formation from which the dip of the strata can be determined will not be found in all portions of the core. It is, therefore, evident that the core must be obtained in the longest possible unbroken sections to receive the data necessary in determining the dip of the strata. Th'e use of a floating or rotating inner core receiving barrel which carries the orienting device is, therefore, necessary for obtaining the information required to properly analyze the geological structure.

From the foregoing, it is evident that one of the most important features of the device contemplated by this invention resides in the construction of a device embodying orienting means associated with a core receiving tube which does not rotate relative to the core, or, more specifically, a core receiving tube mounted in an outer barrel in a manner such that it does not rotate during the rotation of the outer barrel.

Aside from the question of coring and the determination of geological structure, it is frequently advantageous to know whether or not the drill hole is being maintained in a substantially vertical line, or if the drill hole is wandering and, if so, to what extent and in what direction. Thus, it could be readily determined by vaccurately mapping a drill hole Whether or not the well was maintaining its course within the property on which it was spudded in.

It is, therefore, a further object of my invention to develop a core drill by means of which information for the mapping of a drill hole may be conveniently and accurately obtained from the above mentioned data upon the direction and the extent of inclination of a core obtained thereby.

It -is a still further object of my invention to develop a device which may be economically constructed, readily assembled and which is accurate and positive in its action. This invention is adapted for use on any standard type of core drill,

but is to be preferably used upon a core drill having an inner core receiving barrel, which core receiving barrel does not rotate with referenceto the core which is being taken, and an outer core cutting bit.

The general construction of .my invention comprises' a compass, which is provided with a device for clamping the needle. and a plumb bob which is adapted to be suspended above a soft material by means which may be adjusted for automatic release of the plumb bob simultaneously with the clamping of the mentioned compass. The release of the plumb bob permits the same to fall in a vertical line and tobe imbedded in the mentioned soft material. It will be apparent that by knowing the center of the soft material and its distance from the point of suspension of the plumb bob, theinclinat-ion of the core barrel at the time the plumb bob was released may be readily calculated by measuring the distance from the center of the soft material to the point at which the falling plumb bob strikes the same, and that the accuracy of this measurement may be regulated by varying the vertical distance between the point of suspension and the center point of the mentioned soft material.

It vwill thus be seen that by providing means for automatically releasing the plumb bob and simultaneously clamping the compass at a predetermined time and, further, by providing means whereby the relative position of the compass needle with respect to the core barrel may `be accurately determined, that the complete data upon the orientation and the inclination from the vertical of a core received by the barrel at a givenv time may be accurately established.

Y Other objects and advantageous features in construction of my invention will be better understood from the following specication and claims.

Referring to the drawing, which illustrates one embodiment of my invention, chosen for illustrative purposes only,

Fig. 1 is an elevational section of a portion of a drill string adapted to receive a core barrel and to support an embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is asectional view along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, illustrating a form of compass used in my invention.

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation along the line 3`3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan section along the line 4--4 of Fig. 1, illustrating a preferred mechanism forl suspending the plumb bob.

Fig. 5 is an elevational section along the line 5 5 of Fig. 4, and f Fig. 6 is an elevational view substantially in the direction of the arrow 6 in Fig. 1, showing a preferred type of interval timing mechanism used for clamping the compass and releasing the plumb bob.

More particularly describing my invention, 'as herein illustrated, the heavy cross hatching 'indicates non-magnetic metal. Reference numeral l1 indicates a drill string, the lower end of which is adapted to receive a core cutting bit (not 'shown).' The drill string or outer barrel 11 is adapted to receive an inner core receiving barrel 12, which may be provided at its upper end with a valve 13 and fluid circulating ports 14, and Vadapted to receive a plug 15 which may be termed a lower base member. The base member 15 supports what may be termed an enclosing organization generally indicated at 16, comprising a lower tubular enclosing member 17, having a plug member 18 mounted therein at its upper end, the plug member 18 being centrally provided with an aperture adapted to receive a tubular member 19 which, in turn, supports an upper base member 20. The upper base member 20 is adapted to support a compass cup 21 which is held in position by means of screws 21 extending through a suitable flange formed on the compass cup and into the base member 20. The compass cup 2l is surrounded by a non-magnetic tubing 22, which in turn is provided with an upper cover member 23. The compass cup 21 is adapted to receive a magnetic indicator such as a compass card of any standard form indicated at 30, which is provided with a central bearing 31 adaptedto rest upon a bearing pin 32. A spring finger 33 is mounted upon the upper edge of the compass cup and is retained thereon by means such as the ring 34, which, in turn, is held in place by the screws 35. As is best illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, the spring finger 33 extends inwardly over the compass bearing member 31, and is normally adapted to hold the compass card against rotation by engagement therewith in the manner indicated in dot and dash lines in Fig. 3.

For the purpose of holding the spring nger 33 in a non-engaging position and for releasing the same at a pre-determined time, the compass cup is provided at its top with a diametrically extending plate or shaft 36 which supports an outwardly extending arm 37, adapted to receive a screw 38 which, in turn, acts as a bearing for a trigger 39. The lower end of the trigger 39 is provided with a notch 40 which receives an outwardly extending projection 41 upon the finger 33.v An upwardly extending arm 42, the outer end of which is provided with an eye 43 adapted to receive a flexible member 44, is mounted in the upper end of the trigger 39. The flexible member 44 is adapted to extend through an aperture 45 provided in an outwardly extending flange 46 on the upper end of the compass cup and from thence is carried through a suitable passage 47 in the base member 20 to the tubular member 19, as will be hereinafter described.

For the purpose of determining the inclination of the core barrel from the vertical simultaneously with the clamping of the above mentioned compass, the lower section 17 of the enclosing organization is adapted to receive what I may term a supporting standard 50, which is mounted upon the base member 15 in any suitable manner, as by means of the downwardly threaded leg 51. This supporting standard 50 may be formed in two adjustable sections 52 and 52', as shown in Fig. 5, which are expansible to any preferred length, and are held in rigid adjustment by means such as the bolt and nut 53 and 53 respectively. A lower supporting plate 54 is shown as being mounted upon the standard 50 and is adapted to support what may be termed an impressionable member 55. 'Ihis impressionable member 55 may be composed of any suitable plastic or soft material, a preferred substancebeing ordinary soap, which may optionally be provided with sheets of gauze or similar fibrous substance imbedded therein as indicated by the dotted lines 55' in Fig. l. The supporting plate 54 is provided with a central aperture 56, the purpose of which will be hereinafter explained. Aplate member 60, which may be termed a suspending plate, is shown as being mounted upon the upper end of the standard 50, and this plate is provided ioo A notches indicated at 83, which receive the wedgev with a central aperture 61 which is co-axial with the aperture 56 in the lower supporting plate and is adapted to receive a flexible member or cord 62, which supports a penetrating member indicated by the plumb bob 63. The plumb bob 63 is preferably provided with an extending penetrating point 64, which may optionally be provided with a plurality of barbs, indicated at 64', which are adapted to engage the gauze and hold the plumb bob against movement after the point has been imbedded in the soft material.

For the purpose of holding the flexible member 62 against movement through the aperture 61, the upper surface of the plate is provided with what may be termed a releasable suspending organization comprising a resilient finger 68, extending over a suitable fulcrum 69, mounted upon the upper surface of the plate 60 by means such as a screw '70. The resilient finger 68 is provided with an upwardly extending lug 71, which is engaged by a lower notched end '72-of a trigger '73. The trigger '73 is rotatably supported by means o f a pivot screw '74, which, in turn, is mounted upon an arm 74 which is adjustably supported in a slot '75 of an upwardly extending trigger supporting standard '76. The standard 76 is mounted upon the upper surface of the plate 60 by means of the bolt and nut '77 .and '78 respectively. It will be understood that the cord 62 may be of any desired length, but is preferably made of a length which will permit the plumb bob to be partially supported by the cord when the point 64 is imbedded in the impressionable member 55. The upper end of the cord 62 may be attached to the standard '76 at the proper point to provide this support, as indicated in Fig. 5.

It will be no ted that the engaging faces between the notched end of the trigger, '72, and the upwardly extending lug '71 are provided with a slight inclination in order that a releasing movement of the trigger will have an initial tightening effect upon a laterally extending portion 80 of the plumb bob supporting string 62. The trigger '73 is provided with an outwardly extending arm 81 which terminates in an eye 82. The eye 82 receives the lower end of the flexible member 44 coming through the tubular member 19 from the arm 42 on the compass clamping trigger 39.

In order that the plumb bob supporting organization which terminates in the upper supporting plate 60 may be accurately aligned within the tubular enclosing member 17, the upper plate 60 may be provided with a plurality of members indicated at 84, as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5.

An interval timing device or suitable clock mechanism indicated at is mounted upon the lower base member 15 by means of the standards Q ed upon the ,lower plate 54 and adapted to permit a free passage of the flexible member past the soft impressionable material carried bythe lower plate 54. This exible member 91 receives its movement through a segmental rotation of any suitablemember operated by the clock 90, such as the angularly extending arm 94. It will be `Well defined sample in the core barrel.

understood that the clock member 90 may be of any desired form, a preferred form being the organization commonly known as an interval timer, which is set by means of the stem 95 to effect a partial rotation of the arm 94 at any desired hour indicated upon the clock face 94'.

In order that the enclosing organization 16 and the core barrel 12 may be accurately centered within the drill string 11, the outer surface of the upper end of the core barrel and the upper and lower enclosing members may be provided with a plurality of outwardly extending lugs or other suitable spacers, indicated at 96, which may be welded or otherwise secured upon the outer surface.

It will be understood that these spacing members 96 may optionally be used in aligning the compass with the core barrel for the purpose of accurately determining the relation between the core and the direction in which the compass was clamped, or that the outer surface ofthe enclosing organization may be provided with any suitable form of markings for this purpose, the markings preferably being aligned by means of a transit or a chalk line or any other suitable aligning instrument. In 'using the members 96 for this purpose, the relation of one set of members to the north point of the compass is ascertained, these members being in proper alignment throughout the length of the.unit will then establish the vorientation of the core barrel and can be used in locating the north point on the core.

In the assembly and operation of my invention, the interval timer is flrst placed upon the lower base member 15 and is set for the predetermined hour at which the operator feels he can obtain a The plumb bob support is next placed within the lower base member and after threading the flexible member 91 through the necessary parts, the enclosing tubular member 1'7 is placed in position. The compass enclosing member and its attending parts are then inserted in their respective positions and connected with the flexible member in the manner shown in Fig. 1. The entire organization is then lowered into the well in a manner Well known to those familiar with this art and the coretaking operation is initiated. At a time at least several minutes before the hour at which the interval timer is to release the plumb bob and clamp the compass, the drilling operations are suspended in order that the entire system may come to equilibrium. After waiting several minutes to assure the operator that the timing mechanism has been released and to allow for any possible deviation between the interval timer and the timing means used by the operator, the drill string, together with the core, is removed from the well and the relative position of the core with respect to the compass is determined by means of the mentioned markings on the outer surface of the enclosing organization. The instrument is then disassembled and the core removed for studying the slope of strata in the structure.

In determining the inclination of the core, a needle or other suitable instrument is inserted through the opening 56 in the lower plate member 54 in order that the exact center of the upper surface of the impressionable member may be ascertained. The distance from this center to 'the point at which the plumb bob/is impressed in this surface is then measured, and, knowing the vertical distance between the center point and the point of suspension of the plumb bob, the tangent of the angle of deviation from the vertical may be accurately calculated. The horizontal angle made by the line drawn from the center of the soft substance to the point at which the plumb bob point pierces'the soft substance with the north point of the compass is measured as explained above.. (This data is used in determining the direction of inclination from the vertical of the core barrel.)

In order that the plumb bob may be stabilized during the taking of an impression, and for the purpose of preventing the entrance ofthe circulating or other liquid from the drill string 11 into the enclosing organization 16, the enclosing organization may be filled with a suitable liquid which may be poured therein through an opening 97 in the top of the cover member 23. This opening is adapted to receive a threaded plug 98, which may be used to place the liquid therein under suiiicient pressure to resist the entrance of circulating liquid lfrom the drill string into the enclosing organization through the threads, etc. at .the hydrostatic pressure encountered at great depths. It will be understood that this noncirculating liquid contained in the enclosing organization, being under pressure, will be effective to arrest any swinging movement of the plumb bob in a very short time after the drilling operations have been suspended. The liquid used for the above described purpose may be any suitable substance, but is preferably a non-corrosive liquid, such as gasoline.

It will be understood that the exible members 91 and 44 may be of any desired substance, such as ordinary string, but due to the comparative length of these members and the danger of a stretching or breaking of the string, rendering the system inoperative, a preferred material for this purpose is a fine copper or brass wire.

While I have herein described and illustrated one specific embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that various features thereof and modifications of the same may be readily adapted by those familiar with the art without in the least departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, as described above and dened in the following claims,

I claim as my invention:

l. For use in combination with a core barrel, a device for determining the orientation and inclination of said core barrel comprising: a compass having a movable `indicator; releasable clamping means biased to clamp said indicator; means for releasably holding said clamping means from action; a plumb bob provided with a penetrating peint; plumb bob supporting means including a suspended support and gripping means for releasably holding said suspended support against downward movement; means beneath said plumb bob for receiving said penetrating point upon downward movement of the latter; a timing device; and unitary means controlled by said timing device for releasing said indicator clamping means for action andl said gripping means from action at a predetermined time.

2. For use in combination with a core barrel, a device for determining the orientation and inclination of said core barrel comprising: an enclosing organization adapted to be mounted upon said core barrel, saidenclosing organization containing a timing device, a penetrating member and an impressionable member adapted to receive said penetra-ting member; means including a suspended supportfand gripping means therefor for releasably suspending said penetrating member against downward movement from a point above said impressionable member; a compass having a movable indicator; releasable means biased to clamp'said indicator; means for releasably folding said clamping means from action; and a unitary means operated by said timing device for simultaneously releasing said gripping means from action and said indicator clamping means for action.

3. For use in combination with a core barrel, a device for determining the orientation and inclination of said core barrel comprising: an enclosing organization adapted to be mounted upon said core barrel, said enclosing organization containingatiming device, a penetrating member and an impressionable member adapted to receive said penetrating member; means including a flexible member and gripping means therefor for releasably suspending said penetrating member against downward movement from a point above said impressionable member; a compass having a movable indicator; vreleasable means biased to clamp said indicator; and unitary means operated by said timing device for simultaneously releasing said gripping means from actionY and said indicator clamping means for action.

4. For use in combination with a core barrel, a device for determining the orientation and inclination of said core barrel comprising: an enclosing organization adapted to be mounted upon said core barrel, said enclosing organization containing a timing device, a penetrating member and an impressionable member adapted to receive said penetrating member; means including a suspended support and gripping means therefor for releasably suspending said penetrating member against downward movement from a point above said impressionable member; a compass having a movable indicator; releasable means biased to clamp said indicator; unitary means operated by said timing device for simultaneously releasing said gripping means from action and said indicator clamping means from action; and means associated with said enclosing organization for determining the radial relation between the north point of said compass and said core barrel.

5. For use in combination with a double corev barrel, a device for determining the orientation and inclination of the inner core receiving barrel comprising: an enclosing organization adapted to be mounted upon said inner core barrel, said enclosing organization containing a timing device, a penetrating member and an impressionable member adapted to receive said penetrating member; means including a suspended support and gripping means therefor for releasably suspending said penetrating member against downl ing same in spaced relation from said outer barrel.

6. For use in combination with a core barrel.y

means for determining the inclination of Asaid barrel from the vertical comprising: a supporting standard comprising relatively adjustable sections; a supporting-plate mounted on said standard and adapted to carry an impressionable memabove and in superposed relation to said supporting plate; a penetrating member; means associated with said suspending plate for releasably suspending said penetrating member therefrom; and means for automatically releasing said suspending means at a predeterminedy time.

7. For use in combination with a core barrel, a device for determining deviation of said core barrel from the vertical at a` predetermined time which comprises: a substantially verticalstandard; a supporting plate mounted thereon; animpressionable member mounted on said supporting plate; a suspending plate mounted on said standard above and in superposed relation to said supporting plate, said suspending plate being provided with a central aperture; a flexible member slidably extending through said aperture; a penetrating member suspended from said exible member; a resilient member mounted on said suspending plate and adapted to be caused to engage said exible member; a trigger adapted to hold said resilient member in firm releasable engagement with said resilient member; timing'- means; and means connecting said timing means with said trigger for effecting a releasing movement of said trigger at a predetermined time.

8. For use in combination with a core barrel, a device for determining deviation of said core barrel from the vertical at a predetermined time which comprises: a substantially vertical standard; a supporting plate mounted thereon; an impressionable member mounted on said supporting plate; a suspending plate mounted on said standard above and in superposed relation to said supporting plate, said suspending plate being proflvided with a central aperture; a exible member slidably extending through said aperture; a penetrating member suspended from said flexible -member; a resilient member mounted on said suspending plate and adapted to be caused to engage said flexible member; a trigger adapted to hold said resilient member in rm releasable engagement With said flexible member; and timing means for eiecting a releasing movement of said trigger, said timing means comprising an interval timing device provided with an arm adapted to receive a segmental rotation at a predetermined time and a connecting member extending from said arm to a corresponding arm mounted on said trigger-member.

9. For use in combination with a core barrel,

`a (device for determining deviation of said core barrel from the vertical at a predetermined time which comprises: a substantially vertical standard; a supporting plate mounted thereon; an impressionable member mounted on said supporting plate; a suspending plate mounted on said standard above and in supe`rposed relation to said supporting plate, said suspending plate being provided With a central aperture a flexible member slidably extending through said aperture; a penetrating member suspended from said flexible member; a resilient memberl mounted on said suspending plate and adapted to be cause to engage said iiexible member; a trigger adapted to -hold said resilient member in firm releasable engagement with said flexible member; timing means; and means connecting said timing means with said trigger for effecting a releasing movement of said trigger member, said trigger being ard above and in superposed relation to said sup-l porting plate, said suspending plate being provided with a central aperture; a flexible member slidably extending through said aperture; a penetrating member ,suspended from said flexible member; and means for releasably holding said flexible member against movement in said aperture, said lower supporting plate being provided with an aperture coaxial with said upper plate aperture for determining the center of said impressionablev member relative to an impression made by said penetrating member therein.

11. For use in lcombination with a core barrel, an organization for determining the-inclination of said core barrel from the vertical comprising: an impressionable member; means for supporting said impressionable member in a fixed relation with said core barrel; a penetrating member; and means for releasably supporting said penetrating member above said impressionable member, said impressionable member being composed of a plastic substance having a layer of fibrous material member at a point above said impressionable member,4 said supporting means including an upright member provided with means for optionally varying its length and said organization being provided with enclosing means containing a non-circulating liquid.

WILLIAM A. HUNSUCKER.

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